Der Schwerpunkt seiner wissenschaftlichen Tätigkeit lag insbesondere im Rhein-Neckargebiet, in der Umgebung von Tübingen, im Alpenvorland und an der Schwäbischen Alb. Er war diesen Regionen zeit seines Lebens sehr verbunden und konnte das Wissen und den Kenntnisstand über die universitätsnahen Landschaften sehr bereichern. Er war ein national und international ausgewiesener Experte in den Fachgebieten der Bodengeographie, der quartären Landschaftsgenese sowie in geoökologischen Fragestellungen. 

Erhard Bibus war auf der einen Seite ein leidenschaftlicher, sehr praxisorientierter Hochschullehrer, auf der anderen Seite warb er im Rahmen seiner Professur zahlreiche Drittmittelprojekte ein. DFG-Projekte zu den Böden im Schönbuch, zur Rutschungsforschung an der Schwäbischen Alb sowie zu stratigraphischen Themen im Alpenvorland stellen die Breite seiner Aktivitäten sehr gut dar.  Von besonderer Relevanz waren seine Projekte im SFB 275 ‚Klimagekoppelte Prozesse in meso- und känozoischen Geoökosystemen‘. 

Wir werden ihm ein ehrendes Gedenken bewahren. 

Prof. Dr. Birgit Terhorst, Würzburg, Prof. Dr. Volker Hochschild, Tübingen, Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten, Tübingen.

Tom Brög received the award for the Best Doctoral Thesis completed within the Faculty of Geosciences since Summer 2025 for his dissertation, "Remote Sensing-Based Monitoring of Cropland Soil Organic Carbon." His research demonstrates how multispectral soil reflectance composites derived from Sentinel-2 and Landsat time series can be used for cost-effective, large-scale mapping and long-term monitoring of soil organic carbon (SOC) in agricultural soils. The study also represents the first validation of satellite-predicted SOC trends using repeated measurements from long-term soil monitoring sites.

Pegah Khosravani was recognized in the Doctoral Poster Awards for her poster, "Microaggregate-scale heterogeneity as an indicator of initial soil formation in Antarctic cold desert soils."

These recognitions reflect the high quality of research carried out within the Soil Science and Geomorphology Department and the department's continued contribution to research in soil science and geomorphology.

Congratulations to Tom Brög and Pegah Khosravani on their achievements.

Five researchers from the group contributed to the conference by presenting the outcomes of their ongoing research projects. Rabindra Adhikari delivered an oral presentation highlighting key findings of his project, while Snježana Pejdanović presented her work in the PICO session format. In addition, Pegah Khosravani, Hadi Shokati, and Madhavi Parajuli presented their research through scientific posters.

Their participation provided an excellent opportunity to disseminate recent research findings, engage in interdisciplinary scientific discussions, and strengthen international academic collaboration. The conference also served as a valuable platform for networking and exchanging ideas with researchers and experts working across the global geosciences community.

Further details about the event can be found here:

• https://www.bgr.bund.de/SharedDocs/Newsletter/DE/2026/Anrisse/nl01-2026-11_dbg_100.html

• https://www.dbges.de/de/100-jahre-dbg

According to her, the trip aimed to perform field activities and gather soil samples in one of the most unique and challenging natural environments on Earth.

Pegah expressed her gratitude to her academic supervisors, stating that the support of Professor Thomas Scholten and Professor Dirk Wagner was crucial in making this exploratory trip possible. Additionally, the equipment required for sampling and laboratory work was provided by the University of Tübingen and GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, to which she extended her sincere thanks.

She also thanked the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) for providing specialized clothing and equipment suitable for the extreme Antarctic conditions, noting: “The professional equipment provided by AWI played a key role in the success of our field operations under harsh climatic conditions.”

Pegah further highlighted the substantial support of INACH Chilean Antarctic Institute, stating that from the beginning to the end of the mission, the professional INACH team in Chile offered substantial assistance and created excellent conditions at the Chilean research station for conducting this project. She also expressed her gratitude to Pablo Espinoza, the head of the Chilean station, and his team for establishing a professional environment conducive to scientific research.

During this research expedition, Pegah Khosravani and Florian Carlo Ficher were joined by other researchers, including Dr. Silvia Simonetti from the University of Siena, Italy; Prof. Dr. Javier Correa Álvarez from Universidad EAFIT, Colombia; and Prof. Dr. Mario H. Londoño-Mesa from the University of Antioquia, Colombia, as well as colleagues and researchers from Chile, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Brazil. This international group of scientists, photographers, journalists, and researchers each contributed to the study and sample collection in the unique Antarctic environment. She sincerely thanks all of them for their invaluable support, collaboration, and contributions throughout this expedition.

Pegah and her colleague, Florian Carlo Ficher, focused on investigating soil formation processes under Antarctic climatic conditions and successfully collected the samples and data required for their project.

The results of this research are expected to significantly enhance our understanding of soil formation processes under extreme climatic conditions and contribute to studies related to climate change.

The program commenced with a warm welcome from the Dean of IOF, Prof. Thakur Silwal, followed by a cinematic overview of the Institute’s growing portfolio of forestry education in Nepal, current programs, research projects, and research collaborations with different Universities around the globe. The technical core of the morning was Prof. Scholten’s 40-minute presentation, which bridged the gap between soil science and climate dynamics in treeline ecotones in the Himalaya.

Drawing from over a decade of research in Nepal through the TREELINE-I and TREELINE-II projects, Prof. Scholten shared compelling findings regarding the Rolwaling Valley. Notably, he highlighted that while the treeline position in the Rolwalling region appears relatively stable, soil temperatures are significantly higher than the global average. His research emphasizes how specific soil properties act as a critical regulator for tree growth and the overall shift of ecotone boundaries in response to global warming.

The event saw robust participation from the heads and faculties of the Central Departments of Geography, Botany, RECAST, alongside PhD candidates, post-doctoral fellows, and representatives from various organizations. The session concluded with reflections from Prof. Ram Chaudhary, Nepal Coordinator for TREELINE-II, who traced the history of this fruitful TREELINE research partnership. The formal proceedings gave way to vibrant informal discussions on the IOF premises, underscoring the vital role of integrated research data collection and analysis in protecting the fragile Himalayan treeline ecosystem under climate warming.

Following the successful session in Kathmandu, Prof. Scholten traveled to the Pokhara Campus for an evening academic interaction meeting with Campus Chief Dr. Narayan Gautam and various department heads. During this visit, Prof. Scholten was briefed on the campus’s specialized facilities including its soil and plant laboratories, the operational plant nursery and academic programs that are being run on Pokhara campus.

In the February 2026 issue of ÖKO-TEST (available since late January 2026), soil expert Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten explains the causes of increasing soil salinization (e.g., intensive fertilization, irrigation, climate change), its environmental and agricultural consequences, and why this under-discussed issue threatens soil fertility, water quality, and food security worldwide.

The issue's main theme is salt consumption, with this interview highlighting the parallel problem in soils.

Read more about the issue and purchase (print or digital): → https://www.oekotest.de/hefte/Magazin-Februar-2026-Salz_M2602.html

In collaboration with the Hector Kinderakademien and the Soil Science and Geomorphology Group at the University of Tübingen, the course "An die Schaufeln, fertig, los!" (Shovels ready, go!) was developed for gifted primary school children. In this Soilcast podcast episode (published December 23, 2025), host Christoph speaks with Jennifer Raffler (Hector Institute), Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten, and PD Dr. Steffen Seitz about combining soil science, gifted education, and citizen science. The children actively collect real research data, including the Tea-Bag-Index, which contributes directly to studies on soil health, organic matter decomposition, and climate impacts on carbon storage.

The project demonstrates why children are outstanding young scientists: their curiosity, drive to explore, and insightful questions add unique value to soil research.

Listen to the full interview (45 minutes): → https://soilcast.de/interview/sc175-interview-an-die-schaufeln-fertig-los/

More information on the Hector Kinderakademien: → https://hector-kinderakademie.de

Download the full interview PDF: →Hector-Kinderakademie_Interview_Citizen-Science.pdf

Warmest congratulations!

In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Eva Lehndorff, we analyzed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from 53 samples of the Echaz floodplain at the University of Bayreuth over a two-month period. 

PAH analyses serve as an indicator for reconstructing past fire activity and allow conclusions to be drawn about the type of fire and the affected tree and vegetation species. For this purpose, individual PAH compounds such as anthracene, fluoranthene, naphthalene, pyrene, and other components were quantified and evaluated. These results are then interpreted for a comparative land use reconstruction (from c. AD 1100 to 1800) in the Echaz floodplain.

Key innovations include a two-model approach (separate models for mineral and organic soils), an enhanced regressor-chain method, and the application of conformal prediction for spatial uncertainty quantification. The thesis provides harmonized, high-resolution maps for the whole of Germany and represents a major methodological advance in digital soil mapping. 

Heartfelt congratulations!

 For the first time, predicted SOC trends were validated against repeated measurements from long-term soil monitoring sites. The results significantly improve the cost-effectiveness of SOC monitoring under EU Carbon Farming and Carbon Removals initiatives by enabling targeted sampling where satellite-based predictions deviate from expected management effects. 

Warmest congratulations!

Her achievement is a proud milestone for her family, especially her husband, Ndiye, and a moment worth celebrating across the department.

Tebogo balanced her studies with her professional and personal responsibilities, showing steady drive throughout the program. Her work demonstrates strong insight into strategic leadership and organizational development.

The department congratulates Tebogo on her accomplishment and wishes her continued success in the years ahead.

Parajuli emphasizes that while trees are widely recognized as major carbon sinks, studies show that mosses—miniature, non-vascular plants belonging to the division Bryophyta—also play a significant role in carbon sequestration and ecosystem stability. Mosses form dense green carpets on the forest floor, capture and store atmospheric carbon, enhance soil structure, and support diverse microbial and plant communities. 

Globally, moss-covered soils contain about 6.43 billion metric tons more carbon than bare soils—roughly six times the annual global carbon emissions from land-use changes. The decomposition of mosses contributes to the formation of soil organic matter, leading to improved soil aeration, water retention, and erosion resistance. They also moderate soil temperature and moisture and help to stabilize local microclimates and sustain ecosystem functions where there is sparse vascular plant cover.

Nepal’s diverse topography, 60 - 8,848 meters above mean sea level, supports an exceptional richness of moss species—766 recorded species, out of 1318 Bryophytes species identified nationwide. Endemic taxa such as Spagnum nepalensis, Nordia nepalensis, Entodon nepalensis, and Diplophyllum trollii highlight the country’s unique bryoflora. However, 92 moss species are currently listed by IUCN as threatened, primarily due to habitat loss, climate change, and land-use pressures. 

Despite their ecological importance, mosses remain underexplored in Nepal, particularly regarding their roles in carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, and erosion control. Expanding research in these areas could provide valuable insights into nutrient cycling and forest resilience—supporting sustainable management of Nepal’s mountain ecosystems and contributing to global climate mitigation efforts.

Further information on this topic can be found in the full article here. 

Recently, two PhD researchers from the project - Mr. Rabindra Adhikari and Mr. Amrit Maharjan - presented their latest research results at prestigious international conferences: the Annual Meeting of the German Soil Science Society (#DBG2025) held in Tübingen, Germany (13–18 September 2025), and the International Mountain Conference (#IMC2025) in Innsbruck, Austria (10–14 September 2025). 

Mr. Rabindra Adhikari, whose doctoral research focuses on belowground (soil) processes in alpine treeline ecotones, delivered a presentation titled: 

“Himalayan krummholz vs non-krummholz region: Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and C:N ratio indicates nutrient limitation for plant growth in treeline ecotones.” 

His findings reveal that Rhododendron campanulatum mats (Krummholz) not only physically block treeline advancement but also biochemically lock nutrients through nitrogen limitation - forming a double barrier to the upward migration of subalpine species. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Amrit Maharjan presented his study entitled:

“Do tree-ring data reflect contrasting climate sensitivity in a Himalayan treeline ecotone? A comparison of Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Mirb. and Rhododendron campanulatum (D. Don).” 

His research demonstrated contrasting climate responses between the two species: Abies spectabilis showed greater drought sensitivity, while Rhododendron campanulatum displayed stronger growth and resilience under stress. Together, these studies highlight the complex interplay between nutrient dynamics and species competition in shaping Himalayan treeline responses to climate change. Both conferences offered valuable opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and networking, allowing the TREELINE–II team to share insights and connect with the broader international mountain research community.

Mr. Adhikari presented a poster titled “Physico-Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of a Soil Toposequence on Isla Santa Cruz (Galápagos),” which confirmed the presence of andic soil properties in the highlands of Santa Cruz, Galápagos’. His work contributes valuable insights into soil evolution in the scarcely studied soils of the Galápagos Islands.

The congress provided excellent opportunities for engaging in scientific discussions, professional networking, and experiencing the vibrant culture and warm climate of Seville, Spain.

Read the full interview here https://www.mitforschen.org/blog/mit-schaufel-und-neugier-wie-kinder-zu-kleinen-wissenschaftlerinnen-werden

Led by Prof. Dr. Martin Bartelheim (Prehistoric Archaeology) and Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten (Soil Science and Geomorphology), the CRC brought together researchers from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to redefine the concept of “resources” and link it to sustainability and cultural values.

A final interdisciplinary publication summarizes the CRC’s key findings:

Bartelheim et al. (Eds.): ResourceCultures – How Resources Affect Societies. Reichert Verlag, 2025. ISBN 9783752008685

Download the full press release here.
More information: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/39724

ResourceCultures. How Resources Affect Societies
Edited by Martin Bartelheim, Roland Hardenberg, Irmgard Männlein, Simone Riehl, Tobias Schade, and Thomas Scholten

Published in 2025 by Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, Wiesbaden.

This volume is the result of twelve years of interdisciplinary research conducted within the framework of the Collaborative Research Centre SFB 1070 “ResourceCultures”. It brings together contributions from a wide range of disciplines (including archaeology, anthropology, geography, soil science, theology, history, cultural studies, and political science) to examine how both tangible and intangible resources shape identities, social transformations, spatial dynamics, and systems of valuation across historical and contemporary contexts.

The book introduces an innovative analytical approach to resources that considers not only their structured, functional networks (Resource Complexes) but also their dynamic, contingent, and historically embedded relationships (ResourceAssemblages). In addition to theoretical chapters, the volume includes over ten in-depth case studies from diverse regions around the world, including Iran, Spain, the Balearic Islands, South America, and more.

 Further information is available via the publisher's website:
View on Reichert Verlag

Free Open Access PDF version available here:
Download the full eBook

This important publication not only showcases the scholarly achievements of the SFB 1070 research teams but also opens new horizons for the study of resources, culture, and sustainability at both local and global scales.

The interview sheds light on balancing agricultural productivity with environmental stewardship, emphasizing the need for precise nitrogen management to minimize ecological impacts. Prof.  Scholten’s insights align with our ongoing research efforts to promote sustainable farming practices supporting food security and ecosystem health.

Discover more on Futurium’s website and delve into the publication for in-depth insights and comprehensive research. 

Treeline dynamics under the warming climate era are of interest to many researchers. However, the how dynamics occur in Himalayas treelines from the soil nutrient limitation perspective is still unclear. Under the TREELINE -II research project – a collaborative research project funded by German Research Foundation (DFG), our PhD student Rabindra Adhikari presented (oral) the recent findings at the European Geosciences Union (EGU2025)—the biggest event for geoscientists in Europe, with 20,00 plus participants in Vienna, Austria (27 April–3 May 2025).

The study, part of the TREELINE-II project, focuses on microbial biomass as a key indicator of ecosystem health and soil productivity at the forest-alpine ecotone, where trees meet tundra. The research team analyzed soil samples across elevational gradients (3910 – 4260 m amsl), revealing significant variation in microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), and phosphorus (MBP). Research finding shows a consistent decline in microbial biomass with soil depth and among different altitudinal vegetational zones. These findings provide important insight into how belowground nutrient availability can regulate treeline shift in high-mountain ecosystems. Understanding this relationship is essential as Himalayan treelines respond to warming trends.

About the Research: This study introduces Erosion-SAM, a fine-tuned version of the Segment Anything Model (SAM), tailored for the automatic detection of water-induced soil erosion features in high-resolution remote sensing imagery. The model was trained on a dataset comprising 405 manually segmented agricultural fields from erosion-prone areas, including bare cropland, vegetated cropland, and grassland.​Three approaches were evaluated to pre-process the data: resizing, cropping, and prompt-based resizing. The fine-tuned models surpassed the original SAM's performance, with the prompt-based resizing method showing the highest accuracy, particularly in grassland areas (recall: 0.90, precision: 0.82, dice coefficient: 0.86, IoU: 0.75). This work represents a significant advancement in soil erosion modeling, offering a reliable alternative to traditional methods and paving the way for more accurate environmental monitoring and risk assessment.​

Explore the full paper here:

 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816225002565

Access the GitHub code here:

 https://github.com/hadi1994shokati/Soil-erosion-segmentation

Visual Results: The accompanying figure illustrates the segmentation outcomes of the original SAM and Erosion-SAM using different preprocessing techniques, providing a clear comparison of their effectiveness.

Acknowledgments:

We extend our sincere gratitude to our collaborators from the University of Augsburg: Professor Peter Fiener and Kay Seufferheld, for their invaluable contributions to this research. We also express our appreciation to Professor Hendrik P.A. Lensch and Dr. Andreas Engelhardt for their significant input, particularly in the fields of computer vision.​​​

Im Rahmen des Workshops präsentierte Kerstin Rau ihre Forschung mit dem Vortrag: "Quantifying spatial uncertainty to improve soil predictions in data-sparse regions". Die Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der räumlichen Unsicherheitsquantifizierung in bodenkundlichen Vorhersagemodellen und zeigt Ansätze zur Verbesserung der Modellgenauigkeit in Regionen mit begrenzten Daten.

Das zugehörige Paper ist als Preprint verfügbar und kann unter folgendem Link eingesehen werden: Preprint auf EGUsphere.

Weitere Informationen zum DSM Workshop 2025 gibt es hier: Workshop-Website.

In collaboration with the mechanical workshop at the University of Tübingen, the Soil Science and Geomorphology group has now developed a computer-controlled lifting mechanism that automatically performs the required movements in a highly standardised manner. The 3D-printed housing is equipped with an electric drive and can immerse three sets of sieves simultaneously in individually adjustable cycles. This reduces the workload and significantly improves the accuracy of the measurement.

The system will be used as standard upon completion of the new laboratory building. The design plans and possible applications will be published to enable other working groups to use it.

Contact: steffen.seitzspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

On the last day of the conference, an excursion through Nördlingen took place on January 24, during which researches from the project“Local Pathways to the Fluvial Anthroposphere at Echaz (Rhine) and Eger (Danube): A Comparative Analysis from c. AD 1100 to 1800” were discussed. In the photo, project participants can be seen in the center from left to right: Ulrike Werban (UFZ Leipzig), Snježana Pejdanović (University of Tübingen), and Marcel Schön (University of Tübingen).

The Chair, Prof. Thomas Scholten, unfolded the event, sharing its first year’s grand success and the importance of celebrating multicultures in the research institutions. He said, “I too enjoy cooking in the kitchen if I have time and would love to know more about the traditional cuisines around the globe”. He emphasized how such events in the research group bring a positive atmosphere, fresh energy and close connections among colleagues. He also highlighted the rich history of international collaboration, acknowledged the current national-international members of the research team, and shed light on ongoing international research projects. It was our pleasure to know from him that 2024 was the great success year in the Soil Science and Geomorphology research group.

The festival began at 4 PM, featuring a diverse culinary experience from nine different countries/ regions across Europe, Asia, and South America. A detailed menu categorized dishes into Appetizers, Main Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks, with each dish introduced by its creator, sharing its cultural significance and recipe. Among the appetizers, participants enjoyed Flachswickel salzig, Linsensalat, and Kartoffelsalat (Swabia), Chukauni (Nepal), and Petersilien-Selleriesüppchen (France-Palatinate). The main course included Sticky Sweet Rice with Pickle (Nepal), Sarma (Croatia), Kässpätzle (Allgäu), and Keshmesh Polo & Koobideh (Iran). Desserts represented Chile, France, Iran, Swabia, and the Danube region, while drinks such as Schnaps, Pommeau, Bubble Beer, and other beverages added a festive touch.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Chair Prof. Scholten, celebrating the success of the second multicultural dinner evening and his support towards continuing this for years to come.

In Antarctica, soil development begins immediately after the retreat of the ice and snow. Our previous research has shown that the terrestrial microbiome reacts quickly to environmental changes, and distinct soil structures and aggregates form. We assume that soil formation is initially spatially segmented with microhabitats developing inside and on aggregate surfaces. To better understand the interactions between microorganisms, soil formation, and microhabitats, we aim to analyze aggregate interiors and exteriors separately. We will combine micromorphology, µCT, SEMEDX and NanoSIMS and train machine learning algorithms to examine these spheres in more detail, expanding our knowledge of how initial soil formation and microorganisms are linked together in cold deserts like Antarctica.

Your responsibilities are: 

• perform innovative laboratory experiments using Antarctic soil samples for soil simulation experiments to investigate microbial-driven soil formation,
• develop a workflow to combine micromorphology, µCT, SEMEDX and NanoSIMS measurements and train machine learning algorithms on the data,  
• operate and analyze state-of-the-art measurements of soil aggregates,
• publish research results in international peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences.

We expect:  

• a completed MSc in Soil Science, Geoecology, Agriculture, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or other closely related disciplines,
• a research interest in extreme environments such as Antarctica and in the application of state-of-the-art laboratory techniques in soil science,
• a strong background in soil science and documented experience of laboratory methods
• basic understanding of microbiology and geo-bio interactions in soils
• ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international teamwork with excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.

The University of Tübingen is committed to equal opportunities and diversity and to increasing the percentage of women in research and teaching and thus encourages women with adequate qualifications to apply. Disabled persons with equal aptitude will be given preferential consideration. The appointment will start on February 1, 2025, and be limited to January 31, 2028 (36 month). Work place is Tübingen. Salary will be according to the German public service (TVL E13, 67 %). Please send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of certificates, list of publications and names of referees. Please submit all documents as a single PDF file to the secretary of the Chair of Soil Science and Geomorphology, Mrs. Margaretha Baur by December 9, 2024. For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten. 

Lesen Sie mehr darüber, warum Kinder hervorragende Wissenschaftler sind und wie wichtig es ist, schon junge Menschen für den Schutz unserer Böden zu sensibilisieren.

During COVID, we produced some videos in German: the description according to the German field handbook and the classification according to the German national soil classification and, in English and Spanish, according to the FAO Guidelines for Soil Description (2006) and the 3rd edition of the WRB (2015). 

They were published on the teaching platform of our university in 2020 and in 2022 our institute established a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dL7jrqhzwoFfKNLTwGXxQ

Using state-of-the-art methods, this collaborative research aims to test the following hypotheses: H1: Climate change leads to diverging spatial responses of Krummholz and non-Krummholz treelines due to ecosystem-driven feedback mechanisms, and H2: Climate change leads to divergent temporal responses within treeline ecotones due to climate-driven species-specific growth dynamics.

As a collaborative partner in the TREELINE-II research project, the Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST) at Tribhuvan University (TU), Nepal, recently published a newsletter highlighting the value of more than a decade of research collaboration with Tübingen University (link to the report). The collaboration activities are explicitly discussed in the ongoing research project on the "Sensitivity and Responses of Treeline Ecotones in the Nepal Himalayas to Climate Warming (TREELINE-II)" in chapter 6 of the newsletter. Acknowledging the previous phase of treeline research, the report mentions that the current phase of the research is being implemented at multiple treeline sites, i.e., Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCAP) in Dolakha district (Rolwaling Valley) and Langtang National Park (Langtang Valley) in Nepal.

Our postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Nafiseh Kakhani (github.io), developed SSL-SoilNet, a pretrained model leveraging a hybrid transformer-based architecture with extensive unlabeled remote sensing imagery and climate time series data. The model was subsequently fine-tuned to predict soil organic carbon (SOC), a critical environmental parameter. Impressively, SSL-SoilNet outperformed conventional supervised learning approaches and other prevalent machine learning models, demonstrating its versatility across various applications.

Explore the full paper here: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10639449 and

access the GitHub code here: https://lnkd.in/e8H3vWe3.

Acknowledgments: Special thanks to our external collaborators from the University of Tehran: Moien Rangzan, Dr. Sara Attarchi, and Prof. Seyed Kazem Alavipanah. We also extend our gratitude to Dr. Ali Jamali, Prof. Dr. Michael Mommert, and Prof. Nikolaos Tziolas for their invaluable contributions, which significantly enriched our research, especially in the fields of computer vision and environmental science. Finally, we would like to acknowledge Thomas Klein from Neural information processing group for his meticulous review and the advanced insights he brought to this research.

We are excited about the potential impact of our work and its broader applications in the future.

Wir danken Frau Rau herzlich für ihren wertvollen Beitrag zu diesem wichtigen Termin und für ihr Engagement im Namen der Exzellenzstrategie der Universität Tübingen.

Bestehende datenfeldbezogene Schlüssellisten wurden erweitert und an den aktuellen Datenbedarf angepasst. Bei den jeweiligen Datenfeldern wurden Zusatzinformationen wie Erscheinungsform, Ausprägungsgrad, Flächenanteil sowie Größe aufgeführt und, wo nötig, mit schärferen Definitionen versehen, um die Vollständigkeit und damit Qualität der erhobenen Daten zu verbessern. Piktogramme markieren die obligatorischen Datenfelder für verschiedene Aufnahmezwecke, u. a. der bodenkundlichen Landesaufnahme und der bodenkundlichen Baubegleitung. Deutlich erweitert wurden die Kapitel zur Bodenkartierung.

Die Definition der Horizontsymbole wurde auf diagnostische Kriterien umgestellt. Die Bodensystematik wurde zur Vermeidung von Überschneidungen und Lücken zwischen den bodensystematischen Einheiten von der Angabe ganzer Horizontabfolgen auf die Nennung diagnostischer Horizonte umgestellt, die nun eine leichtere Einordnung eines Bodens in die Systematik ermöglichen. Weitere Änderungen und Ergänzungen betreffen die Einführung neuer Bodentypen, wie z. B. des Andosols (Vulkanboden).

Um den Gebrauch der Substratsystematik zu erleichtern, wurde neben einzelnen Vereinfachungen eine kompaktere Darstellung gewählt. Dies soll die Aufnahme und Kennzeichnung von besonders substratdominierten Böden erleichtern, insbesondere auch auf Siedlungs-, Industrie- und Gewerbeflächen.

Neu ist die Möglichkeit der Beschreibung von Humushorizonten und die Fassung der Humusformen in einer eigenen Systematik.

Auf Wunsch vieler Nutzerinnen und Nutzer wurden die Inhalte der KA6 entflochten. Die KA6 erscheint aus praktischen Gründen in zwei Bänden, einem Grundlagen-, Kennwerte- und Methodenband einerseits und einem Geländeband mit aktualisierten Schlüssellisten zur Bodenaufnahme, Boden- und Substratsystematik, Erläuterung des Modells der periglaziären Lagen sowie der Humusformensystematik andererseits.

• Band 1: Grundlagen, Kennwerte und Methoden
• Band 2: Geländeaufnahme und Systematik

Die Bodenkundliche Kartieranleitung ist seit Jahrzehnten auch eine wesentliche Grundlage für die Bodenfachinformationssysteme der Staatlichen Geologischen Dienste. Sie soll sowohl den Austausch von Bodendaten zwischen Bereitstellern und Nutzern als auch zwischen EDV-Systemen vereinfachen und die Verfügbarkeit sowie den Nutzen dieser Daten erhöhen. Die Tabellen für die Datenauswertung, insbesondere zum Bodenwasserhaushalt, wurden auf neuer Datengrundlage komplett überarbeitet und Dreiecksdiagramme zur Abschätzung von Wasserhaushaltsparametern im Gelände ergänzt. Die neue Kartieranleitung wurde von den Staatlichen Geologischen Diensten, der BGR und Arbeitsgruppen wissenschaftlicher Fachgesellschaften (Deutsche Bodenkundliche Gesellschaft, Gesellschaft für Moor- und Torfkunde) erarbeitet.

After Corinna had already successfully defended her dissertation last year with a great presentation, the final step now followed by the official graduation ceremony of the University of Tübingen. Numerous newly qualified doctoral students attended this ceremony in the ballroom of the new auditorium which was accompanied by musical performances of the academic brass quintet and a ceremonial speech by Prof. Dr. Kramer entitled „Jenseits des Konflikts. Grundzüge einer Rhetorik der Verständigung“

Steffen finalized his habilitation in Physical Geography and Geomorphology shortly after. His work on "Vegetation and Erosion - How do plant canopies and biological soil crusts affect soil translocation?" has provided valuable insights into the influence of plant traits and biodiversity on splash erosion, the impact of mosses and biological soil crusts on soil erosion and has formed the basis for knowledge transfer into new methods of erosion control on managed soils.

Steffen's final habilitation lecture, “Source or Sink? Soils as carbon reservoirs in climate change” demonstrated his expertise on the crucial role of soils in mitigating climate change and showed that he can communicate this knowledge to a broad audience in an understandable way. With this achievement, Steffen has acquired the venia legendi (licence to teach) in Physical Geography and Geomorphology.

To celebrate, we hosted a delightful barbecue in the Institute's garden, where Steffen received many great gifts: The first edition of the very famous soil science book Scheffer & Schachtschabel, the official challenge cup for successful habilitation candidates, and a very prestigious PD hat, among others.

The field mission commenced in the second week of May 2024. However, two weeks prior to this, PhD students Rabindra Adhikari from Tübingen University and Amrit Maharjan from Hamburg University traveled to Nepal to evaluate potential research sites in the Langtang area. They also visited the Rolwaling research site in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA) in Dolakha district to retrieve data from climate data logger sensors installed in 2023. In Langtang, after assessing four potential sites, two were selected following a confirmation visit by the entire team. The research team, divided according to specific research objectives, focused on soil, vegetation, tree cores rings, and root sampling, as well as the installation of temperature and moisture microclimatic data sensors.
The Tübingen University team, consisting of four members, concentrated on sampling soil, vegetation, roots, and setting up microclimatic data sensors. The research area was divided into two altitudinal slopes—North-East (NE) and North-West (NW)—each containing four ecological zones: Lower Krummholz (LC), Upper Krummholz (UC), Lower Dwarf Shrub Heath (LD), and Upper Dwarf Shrub Heath (UD). In total, 32 plots of 20x20 meters were established for soil and vegetation sampling. Despite the challenges posed by the rugged and steep terrain, unpredictable weather, the team's remarkable perseverance led to successful data collection. Lisa-Marie, a B.Sc. student from Tübingen University, reflected on her experience, stating, "It was a great experience working in the Himalayas for my bachelor thesis, a wonderful opportunity to learn from the field. The work was not easy, but the mountains are always motivating."

Rabindra Adhikari, a PhD student under Prof. Thomas Scholten (PI of TREELINE-II), coordinated the field efforts with Tribhuvan University, Nepal and other governmental agencies, including national park offices and conservation area offices. The team received indispensable support from local stakeholders, especially the chief of Langtang national park office in Rasuwa. The generosity and hospitality of the local people significantly contributed to the success and enjoyment of the team's stay in Langtang. The ongoing research findings are expected to enhance our understanding of treeline shift dynamics in the central Himalayas and the unique role played by krummholz structured forest. For more information about the TREELINE research project, please contact Rabindra Adhikari or Prof. Thomas Scholten.

-    Adhikari, R., (2024).
 

Throughout the conference, Dr. Kakhani participated in several workshops and breakout sessions focused on recent advances in ML/DL, sensor development, and the application of RS data. These sessions provided valuable insights into geoscience, offering practical knowledge and new perspectives.

She also had the opportunity to present her own research in collaboration with Prof. Michael Mommert and Prof. Thomas Scholten on: "Advanced Prediction of Soil Organic Carbon: A Hybrid Transformer Network with Cost-Sensitive Learning Using Remote Sensing and Climate Data," which involved designing a new loss function in DL models for more accurate prediction of soil organic carbon. The presentation was well-received, generating significant interest and constructive feedback from the audience. This experience was invaluable for sharing ideas and gaining new insights from peers and experts in the field. The full paper will be published in IEEE proceedings, and more information in this regard can be found here (more automation will come soon; stay tuned).

Overall, IGARSS 2024 was a highly informative and enriching experience. We are looking forward to applying the knowledge gained and contributing to ongoing developments in the field.

wir freuen uns, Sie und Euch bereits mit dieser Ausgabe der Grünen Blätter zur Jahrestagung 2025 nach Tübingen einzuladen. Der Termin 13.-18.09.2025 umfasst wie immer am Samstag und Sonntag Exkursionen, von Montag bis Donnerstag die Fachtagung in den Gebäuden der Universität Tübingen auf der Morgenstelle und am anschließenden Freitag Exkursionen. Inhaltlich werden wir ein spannendes Exkursionsprogramm und ein vielfältiges Vortragprogramm rund um aktuelle Forschungsthemen der Bodenwissenschaften bieten, zum Beispiel Geo-Bio-Interaktionen von der Nanoskala bis zu globalen Fragen, Multifunktionalität von Böden und Landschaften, Bodenbiodiversität, KA6, die neue Bodensystematik und die Anwendung künstliche Intelligenz in der Bodenkunde.

Thomas Scholten, Michaela Dippold, Yvonne Oelmann, Callum Banfield, Harald Neidhardt, Peter Kühn

Am Freitag kämpften sich die Studierenden knapp sieben Stunden mit dem Fahrrad durch das Ammertal; für den einzigen trockenen Moment sorgte dabei die Mittagspause unter dem Vordach eines Einkaufsladens. Im Fokus lag eine praktische Einführung in die Bodenkunde, von den Ausgangsgesteinen über die Pedogenese und Bodenaufnahme nach der KA5, bis hin zur anthropogenen Nutzung unserer Böden. Die vorausgegangenen Niederschläge rückten sehr anschaulich den Themenkomplex der Bodenerosion auf brachliegenden Ackerschlägen in den Mittelpunkt.

Am Samstag, diesmal mit dem Bus, beschäftigten wir uns mit der Landschaftsgeschichte und Geomorphologie, insbesondere dem Karst auf der Schwäbischen Alb. Während im Keuperbergland und den Oberen Gäuen westlich von Tübingen über das Wochenende „nur“ 40,5 mm innerhalb von 48 Stunden gemessen wurden (Station Bondorf), sorgte die Vb-Wetterlage auf der Schwäbischen Alb für eine Niederschlagssumme von 150,3 mm innerhalb von 72 Stunden (Wetterstationen). Der in St. Johann aufgenommene extrem ergiebige Dauerregen ist nach KOSTRA-DWD als mindestens 50-jähriges Niederschlagsereignis einzuordnen und entspricht etwa einem Sechstel der durchschnittlichen jährlichen Niederschlagssumme.

Wenn auch das Wetter den Studierenden die schöne Sicht auf den Albtrauf und die Kuppenalb nahm, offenbarte sich an der Falkensteiner Höhle, östlich von Reutlingen ein spektakuläres Bild. Dort, wo sonst gerne ein Stopp für die Mittagspause eingelegt wird, zeigte sich eindrucksvoll, wie schnell das System im seichten Karst auf starke Niederschläge anspringt. Nicht nur die Falkensteiner Höhle, sondern auch etliche Karstaustritte in der unmittelbaren Umgebung schütteten stark und sorgten spätestens ab dieser Station für vollkommen durchnässte Wanderschuhe bei den Studierenden.

Die Niederschläge führten bereits am vorausgehenden Freitag für großflächig übersättigte Böden auf der Alb, was sich im Laufe des Wochenendes in zahlreichen kleineren Rutschungen und der Ausbildung einiger stehender Gewässer, sowie von Gerinnen in den Trockentälern der Karstlandschaft wiederspiegelte.

Zusammengefasst bot sich den Studierenden eine zwar sehr nasse, aber auch sehr anschauliche GEO21-Exkursion, wie sie selten der Fall ist. Den angehenden GeographInnen, GeoökologInnen und ArchäologInnen als auch dem Exkursionsleiter Herrn Felix Weinschenk ist das größte Kompliment zu machen, da sie trotz aller Widrigkeiten zwei Tage mit Engagement voll durchzogen und somit die Exkursion zu einem großen Erfolg machten.

Tübingen is a leading place for research in geosciences. We offer an excellent, interdisciplinary and vivid research environment in an international research team (http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/soilscience) and in a vibrant city (https://www.tuebingen.de/en/). The position is embedded into the lively and interactive environment of several coordinated research projects such as the Cluster of Excellence “Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science”, the Collaborative Research Centre SFB1070 “ResourceCultures” and the research unit FOR5281 “Multitrophic Interactions in a Forest Biodiversity Experiment in China” including interesting career opportunities and an extensive range of training and further education courses.

The University of Tübingen is committed to equal opportunities and diversity and to increasing the percentage of women in research and teaching and thus encourages women with adequate qualifications to apply. Disabled persons with equal aptitude will be given preferential consideration.

Please send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of certificates, list of publications and names of referees together with a 1-page pitch on your planned research project outlining the objectives and how you want to achieve them. Please submit all documents as a single PDF file (not exceeding 10 MB) to the secretary of the Chair of Soil Science and Geomorphology, Mrs. Margaretha Baur, at margaretha.baurspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de by June 10, 2024. For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten at thomas.scholtenspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de.

Im Forschungsprojekt des Schwerpunktprogrammes SPP 2361 steht die Frage nach dem Einfluss des Menschen im Mittelalter auf die Aue der Echaz und der Eger bei Nördlingen im Mittelpunkt. Im Modul GEO 86 wird nach Möglichkeit Lehre mit aktuell laufenden Forschungsprojekten verknüpft, sodass sowohl die Gelände- als auch die Laborergebnisse in die laufenden Forschungen mit einfließen werden.    

Die im April entnommenen Bodenproben wurden inzwischen von den Studierenden getrocknet, gesiebt und gemahlen und werden in der Pfingstwoche im Rahmen der Laborübung in GEO 86 im Labor für Bodenkunde und Geoökologie analysiert werden.

Die Kinder, die für diese Akademie nominiert wurden, nehmen an speziell entwickelten Kursen teil, die sich auf die MINT-Fächer (Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik) konzentrieren. Die Hector Kinderakademien, finanziert von der Hector Stiftung II und unterstützt vom Kultusministerium, veranstalten seit 2010 solche Kurse für begabte Grundschulkinder. Das Ziel ist es, ein Verständnis für wissenschaftliche Arbeits- und Erkenntnisprozesse zu vermitteln und die Kinder für naturwissenschaftliche Forschung zu begeistern.

In diesem konkreten Kurs steht der Teebeutelindex im Mittelpunkt, eine wissenschaftlich anerkannte Methode, um die Abbaurate von organischem Material im Boden zu bestimmen. Die Kinder beteiligen sich dabei an einem Citizen-Science-Projekt, bei dem sie Daten zur Zersetzungsrate in Böden sammeln, die dann an die Wissenschaftler der Universität Tübingen weitergegeben werden. Die Hoffnung ist, dass solche Projekte den begabten Kindern die Möglichkeit bieten, ihren Wissensdurst zu stillen und gleichzeitig zur wissenschaftlichen Forschung beizutragen.

The first paper, titled "Improving the spatial prediction of soil salinity in arid regions using wavelet transformation and support vector regression models", delves into the field of predicting soil salinity utilising machine learning algorithms with the aim to improve agricultural productivity in arid regions. Its recognition as a "Highly Cited Paper" underscores the significance of the findings and the relevance of the research to the broader scientific community.

In the second paper, titled "Global maps of soil temperature", global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km² resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth were created. This achievement reaffirms the Tübingen Working Group's commitment to producing high-quality research that contributes to the advancement of our field.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all collaborators, supporters, and contributors who have played a crucial role in these accomplishments. This recognition motivates us to continue our pursuit of excellence and innovation in the realm of geomorphology and soil science.

The party was kicked-off at 4 o’clock with a diverse array of drinks and multinational appetizers exemplifying the cultural richness of the team, such as bung cheese with pretzels (Rheinhessen), salad made of strips of sausage, onions, and gherkins (Schwaben), bulgur salad with cucumber and tomato (Iran and Lebanon) and potato-yogurt salad (Chukaini, Nepal). Before serving each meal items, researchers who prepared were provided time to explain the recipe and how it is linked to their respective culture. As a main course, participants fully enjoyed the variety of foods including but not limited to fresh prepared burek from Croatia, barberry rice with chicken (Iran), potato pancakes with leek, onion, and bacon (Saarland), Persian rice, hot and spicy okra vegetable (Nepal) and many more. Similarly, puddling cream and chocolate (Westfalen), chocolate and cherry cake (Donau), gingerbread of Saarland and marvelous Black Forest cake with cherry (Germany) stealing the spotlight as desserts.

Admits the delightful dinner, the program was coupled with research work/excursion updates organized in 2023. Experiences of research field expedition such as TREELINE-II research presented by our PhD student Rabindra from Nepal while the latest China research visit by Prof. Thomas Scholten and team was presented by Dr. Steffen Seitz and a brief video documentary presented by Dr. Peter Kühn from the research project DFG SPP “Fluvial Anthroposphere”.

To conclude the evening on a lively note, table football matches were played among different groups/teams fostering unity and team sprite. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Chair Prof. Thomas Scholten, marking the success of the first-ever organized multicultural dinner evening in the research team.

Photos and text: Rabindra Adhikari (2024)

The chapter provides a brief overview of digital soil mapping (DSM) in Iran, which uses machine learning and environmental data to create soil maps for better soil management. The report reviews the background of DSM in Iran, recent developments in machine learning methods and the environmental covariates commonly used in DSM. Despite its short history in Iran, DSM has attracted significant interest in recent years, with several studies conducted in different regions of the country. The report highlights the importance of advanced machine learning methods, such as random forests and artificial neural networks, for accurate prediction and classification of soil properties. It also discusses the importance of environmental covariates such as topography, geology, climate and land use for DSM in Iran. The article concludes that DSM has the potential to play a critical role in soil management and conservation in Iran and that further research is needed to realise this potential.

20 scientists from Japan and Germany met over four days and discussed current issues in applied soil erosion research, ecohydrology and pedometrics. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten introduced the aims and possibilities of the Cluster of Excellence in Machine Learning in a keynote talk and affiliated scientists presented their soil-related research work with state-of-the-art techniques using artificial intelligence.

The scientific programme was accompanied by excursions to the biodiversity exploratories Swabian Alb, the Schönbuch Nature Park and the botanical garden of the University of Tübingen, as well as a visit to Hohentübingen Castle with its museum (MUT). The two initiators, Dr. Kazuki Nanko (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba) and Dr. Steffen Seitz (Department of Geosciences, Tübingen) drew a very positive conclusion of the joint exchange after the final discussion round and are looking forward to future cooperation formats.

Her winning poster, "SoilNet: A Spatio-temporal Deep Learning Framework for Digital Soil Mapping," showcased her work on SoilNet. This project represents an ongoing endeavor aimed at utilizing the power of deep learning to extract maximum insights from multimodal data. The ultimate goal is to construct a meticulously designed model for digital soil mapping, a task of great significance in the field of earth sciences.

Thank you very much for this great exchange and the invitation for a return visit to Prague.

Den diesjährigen Posterpreis für junge WissenschaftlerInnen gewann Corinna Gall.

eine studentische Hilfskraft (w/m/d)
im Umfang von 30 Stunden/Monat.

Die Stelle ist ab Oktober 2023 zu besetzen und zunächst für die Dauer von sechs Monaten befristet. Das Hector-Institut für Empirische Bildungsforschung beschäftigt sich in Forschung und Lehre mit individuellen, sozialen und institutionellen Determinanten von Lehr- und Lernprozessen. Zusammen mit dem Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsforschung und Bildungsinformation (DIPF) in Frankfurt ist es zuständig für die wissenschaftliche Begleitung der Hector Kinderakademien. Bei den Hector Kinderakademien handelt es sich um ein landesweites Enrichmentprogramm für besonders begabte, interessierte und motivierte Grundschulkinder. Im Rahmen unseres Hector Core Courses „An die Schaufeln, fertig, los! Mit Wissenschaftler*innen den Boden erforschen“, der für die Hector Kinderakademien entwickelt wurde, nehmen Kinder an einem bodenwissenschaftlichen Citizen-Science-Projekt zur Erfassung des Tea-Bag-Index teil. Ziel des Projekts ist, Grundschulkinder an aktueller Forschung zu beteiligen. Bei dem Projekt handelt es sich um eine interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit zwischen dem Hector-Institut und der Professor für Bodenkunde und Geomorphologie der Universität Tübingen. Zur Unterstützung unseres Citizen-Science-Projekts wird eine studentische Hilfskraft gesucht. Bewerben können sich Studierende der Geographie, Geowissenschaften, Geoökologie oder ähnlicher Fachrichtungen sowie Studierende der Erziehungs- und Bildungswissenschaften, Psychologie, Soziologie und Lehramtsstudierende.

Weitere Informationen zu uns, dem Citizen-Science-Projekt sowie dem Hector Core Course „An die Schaufeln, fertig, los!“ und den Hector Kinderakademien finden Sie unter https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/216151, www.hectorkinderakademien.de und bit.ly/bodenkunde.

Typische Tätigkeiten:

• Koordination, Vorbereitung und Distribution der CitizenScience-Aktionskits
• Bearbeitung der zurückgesandten Citizen-ScienceAktionskits und Datenerfassung
• Laborarbeiten nach Einweisung (Einwaage, Sieben, etc.) im Labor des Geographischen Instituts
• Unterstützung bei der Gestaltung der Citizen-ScienceErgebniskommunikation an die Kinder

Ihr Profil:

• Interesse an der Mitarbeit in einem interdisziplinären Forschungsprojekt
• ausgeprägte organisatorische Fähigkeiten
• hohes Maß an Selbstständigkeit, strukturierte und sorgfältige Arbeitsweise
• Zuverlässigkeit und Engagement

Bei Interesse freuen wir uns über Ihre Bewerbung (Anschreiben, Lebenslauf, Abiturzeugnis, Zwischenprüfungszeugnis oder Transcript of records in einem PDF-Dokument). Richten Sie diese bitte bis spätestens 15.09.2023 per E-Mail an Frau Julia Maria Lange (julia-maria.langespam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de). Die Universität Tübingen fördert qualifizierte Studentinnen und bittet deshalb um ihre Bewerbung. Schwerbehinderte Bewerber/innen werden bei gleicher Eignung bevorzugt berücksichtigt. Die Einstellung erfolgt durch die Zentrale Verwaltung.

https://heiaa.archaeoman.de/

Alle Pflanzen brauchen Stickstoff zum Leben. Zwar ist reichlich Stickstoff in der Luft, aber diese Form kann von den Pflanzen meist nicht verwertet werden. In der Regel erfolgt die Aufnahme über die Wurzeln, durch Symbiose mit Pilzen oder Bakterien.

Eine intensivierte Landwirtschaft führt den Pflanzen große Mengen an Stickstoffverbindungen über Dünge- und Futtermittel zu. Dadurch gelangen deutschlandweit jährlich durchschnittlich pro Hektar landwirtschaftlicher Fläche 92 Kilogramm ungenutzter Stickstoff in die Umwelt – bei einer bestehenden gesetzlichen Obergrenze von 80 kg/ha – und reichern sich in Böden und Gewässern an.

Zielgerichtete, effiziente und bedarfsgerechte Ausbringungstechnologien, können zu einer deutlichen Verringerung der Stickstoffeinträge in Grundwasser, Oberflächengewässer, Böden und die Luft führen.

Bei diesem acatech am Dienstag setzen wir uns mit unterschiedlichen Strategien zur Reduktion des Stickstoffgehalts in den Böden auseinander: Wie sehen nachhaltige Bewirtschaftungsstrukturen aus? Wie müssen die Rahmenbedingungen geändert werden? Welchen Beitrag können nachhaltiger Konsum und informierte Kaufentscheidungen leisten?

Die Veranstaltung fand im Rahmen des Flower Power Festival München statt.

Begrüßung:

• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Wörner, Präsident acatech

Podium:

• Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten, Lehrstuhl für Bodenkunde und Geomorphologie, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen
• Dr. Anette Freibauer, Institut für Agrarökologie und Biologischen Landbau, Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Freising
• Dr. Eberhard Nacke, Director Corporate Product Strategy, CLAAS KGaA mbH
• Andreas Puchner, Referent für Umwelt- und Naturschutz, Bayerischer Bauernverband

Moderation:

• Dr. Martin Bimmer, acatech Geschäftsstelle

Seven oral and poster presentations were given in the course of the week.

Corinna Gall:
Water-related soil-moss interactions at different scales [Link]

Nafiseh Kakhani & Ndiye Kebonye:

• Exploring the ‘Individual Treatment Effects’ (ITE) of Vegetation with Causal Inference on Soil Organic Carbon Prediction in Germany [Link]
• Topography and climate dictate soil NPK stoichiometry across Africa [Link]

Kerstin Rau:
How can we quantify, explain and apply the uncertainty of complex soil maps predicted with neural networks? [Link]

Nicolas Riveras:
How do biocrusts modulate erosion along different climatic conditions?

Steffen Seitz:

• Vegetation diversity and plant traits affect throughfall partitioning and subsequent splash erosion in managed woodlands [Link]
• Concentrative drop impacts by a bunch of canopy drips: hotspots of soil erosion in forest [Link]

Ruhollah Taghizadeh:
Quantification of uncertainty using artificial neural networks for mapping of soil properties in Germany [Link]

Session
Vegetation and canopies: Effects on erosion and hydrological, pedological, biogeochemical processes and patterns
Co-organized by HS2/BG3/SSS8 Convener: Johanna Clara Metzger & Steffen Seitz

Externer Link:
https://www.hs-rottenburg.net/aktuelles/aktuelle-meldungen/meldungen/aktuell/befahrungsversuch/

This results are showing the importance of soil properties - in particular total Carbon and Calcium Carbonate - for predicting the presence of archaeological sites in desertic areas.

The Chair of Soil Science and Geomorphology is offering a three-year PhD position within the DFG- funded (German Research Foundation) project on soil erosion in agricultural landscapes in the context of dynamic changes of land use patterns and structures (DYLAMUST). The candidate (m/w/d) will analyze the dynamic of today’s agricultural landscapes and its interrelation with soil erosion processes. We ask whether, why, and to what extent changing landscape patterns and structures affect the hydrological and sedimentological connectivity of agricultural landscapes. Soil erosion modeling with data driven machine learning and conceptual erosion models is at the center of the project. Such hybrid landscape scale modeling can open the possibility of identifying optimal land use patterns that reduce on-site and off-site damage from soil erosion. In-field measurements are located in Germany. Project work will be performed in close collaboration with another PhD student from the Water and Soil Resource Research Group (Prof. Dr. Peter Fiener, University of Augsburg, Germany).

Your responsibilities are:

• research on the perspectives and application of machine learning for soil erosion modeling,  
• apply novel machine learning methods in close collaboration with the research group
• at the University of Augsburg,  
• documentation and publication of results in international peer reviewed journals,  
• presentation of results at national and international scientific meetings, and
• contribution to the teaching activities of the group to a limited extent.

We expect:

• completed MSc in Soil Science, Geoecology, Geoinformatics, Remote Sensing, Agriculture,
• Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, or other closely related disciplines,
• a research interest in the application of machine learning in soil science,
• expertise in spatial statistical analysis and/or big data modeling and /or soil erosion modeling,
• experience in programming (R and/or Python) and GIS software (QGIS), and
• very good communication skills (oral and written) in English.

We offer:

• an excellent, interdisciplinary and dynamic research environment in an international team
• (http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/soilscience) and a vibrant city (https://www.tuebingen.de/en/), and
• a close collaboration with the Tübingen cluster of excellence ‘Machine Learning: New Perspectives for Science’ (http://www.machinelearningforscience.de) and the Collaborative Research Center ‘ResouceCultures’ (SFB1070) including interesting career opportunities and an extensive range of training and further education courses.

The appointment will be limited to June 2026 (36 month). Workplace is Tübingen. Salary will be according to the German public service (TVL E13, 75 %). In case of equal qualification and experience physically challenged applicants are given preference. The University of Tübingen aims to increase the share of women in research and encourage female scientists to apply. For more information contact Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten (thomas.scholtenspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de). Please send your application (one pdf-formatted document) with detailed curriculum vitae, and statement of research interests, certificates/transcripts before 17 April 2023 to Margaretha Baur (margaretha.baurspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de).

Der volle Artikel kann über folgenden Link abgerufen werden:

https://transforming-economies.de/deutschland-muss-stickstoff-ueberschuesse-in-der-landwirtschaft-dringend-abbauen/

• Can we source extra remote sensing covariates to use in digital soil mapping? (BSc/MSc) [PDF]
• Assessing scale-dependent controls of topsoil organic carbon based on multivariate and machine learning approaches (BSc/MSc) [PDF]
• Comparison of Spectral and Geometrical Features in Soil Classification (MSc) [PDF]
• Mathematical Morphology in Digital Soil Mapping (MSc) [PDF]
• Use of Soil Maps for Vegetation Classification and Management (MSc) [PDF]
• Assessing the Spatial Variability of Soil Erosion at a Global Scale Using (R)USLE (BSc/MSc) [PDF]
• Multivariate Random Forest for Predicting Soil Quality Indicators (BSc/MSc) [PDF]
• Semi-Supervised Learning for Spatial Prediction of Soil Properties (BSc/MSc) [PDF]

More theses and additional information can be found in the open thesis section. 

PhD Position (Soil Science/Physical Geography)

(Start date 1^st May 2023, 36 months, 65 %, salary: pay grade E 13 TV-L).

The position of a PhD is embedded in the research project “Local pathways to the Fluvial Anthroposphere at Echaz (Rhine) and Eger (Danube). A comparative analysis from c. AD 1100 to 1800” in the context of the newly established Priority Programme 2361 “On the Way to the Fluvial Anthroposphere”. Floodplains in Central Europe are subject to massive human influences, which had already led to significant ecological changes in the pre-industrial era. The main goal of the doctoral project is the interpretation of geo-biochemical marker analyses from fluvial sediment archives for the comparative reconstruction of different land uses in the floodplains of Echaz and Eger. The study will be conducted within an interdisciplinary team comprising experts from soil science, geomorphology, history and archaeology.

Your tasks will be to conduct fieldwork in the study areas in close cooperation with the Leipzig University and the Helmholtz Centre of Environmental Research (UFZ, Leipzig). Together you will organise and conduct direct push and vibra-coring campaigns in both floodplains as well as sediment/soil sampling and be responsible for geoscientific GIS data management and the geoscientific interpretation of maps and remote sensing data. In particular, you will be responsible for all laboratory analyses (C, N, δ¹⁵C and δ¹³N) in Tübingen and the marker analyses (enzymes, PAH and faecal biomarkers) with the cooperation partners at the Universities Hohenheim and Bayreuth. Together with the entire research group, you will contribute to the project results and publish them in peer-reviewed relevant interdisciplinary journals.

You are qualified in Soil Science, Geoarchaeology, Geosciences, Physical Geography or related sciences with above-average results. You have experience in soil science/physical geography field and laboratory work, and want to deepen and expand this knowledge with archaeopedological components and are interested in cooperation with archaeology and history. The willingness to cooperate with colleagues from other disciplines and institutes is a prerequisite. Furthermore, excellent team work skills, fluency in English and German is an advantage, and a motivation to present results at international conferences are expected. A Class B driving licence is required.

You can expect a very diverse and challenging job. We offer an excellent, interdisciplinary and dynamic research environment in an international team (http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/soilscience) and a vibrant city (https://www.tuebingen.de/en/). You are trained in interdisciplinary methods, conduct joint fieldwork and attend training events.

Tübingen is a beautiful place to live, combining a historic and venerable flair with the liveliness of a young and cosmopolitan student town. Reconciling work and family life is of particular concern to our university, and we offer a working environment that promotes this. The Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen aims to increase the share of women in research and encourage female scientists to apply. Severely disabled applicants will receive preference over equally qualified nondisabled applicants.

Please send your application (one single pdf-formatted document) with detailed curriculum vitae, and statement of research interests, certificates/transcripts by 20 March 2023 to Margaretha Baur (margaretha.baurspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de). For more information, contact Dr. Peter Kühn (peter.kuehnspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de).

The project:

The project aims to understand effects of climate change on treeline environments in the Nepal Himalaya, focusing on spatial and temporal differences between krummholz and non-krummholz treelines in response to climate change. Understanding these differences is key to the question to what extent Himalayan treeline shifts can be expected in the 21st century. Results of TREELINE-I indicate that climate warming effects are altered at local scale by non-thermal factors. At the Rolwaling treeline study site (approx. 4000 m), the dense Rhododendron campanulatum krummholz zone retards a treeline shift to higher elevations. Krummholz thickets are highly competitive and act as a barrier, slowing down population processes at the front-edge of the treeline-forming species Betula utilis and Abies spectabilis. Other driving factors of treeline inertia presumably include limited availability of nitrogen and phosphorous, as well as soil moisture deficits in the pre-monsoon season, the latter adversely affecting tree growth in recent decades. TREELINE-II will test the hypothesis that krummholz zones are the crucial structural component of central Himalayan treeline ecotones controlling any treeline shifts, and that climate warming leads to widely disparate spatial and temporal responses of krummholz and non-krummholz treelines.

Responsibilities and specific duties:

Duties include academic services in the project named above. The candidate will be responsible for the Work Package 2 ‘Treeline Soils Analysis’ of TREELINE-II. In this work package, we will assess soil property effects to elucidate the role of krummholz zones in treeline dynamics across central Himalayan treelines and underlying mechanisms and feedbacks that maintain the competitiveness of R. campanulatum, but are unfavourable to most other plants. These are (i) inhibition of growth of other plants beneath R. campanulatum driven by allelopathy, (ii) limited nutrient availability resulting from low CNP contents, low cation exchange capacity and high soil acidity, and (iii) pre-monsoon drought stress at the beginning of the growing season.

Requirements:

The candidate should have experience in field-based methods of soil science and/or geoecology. Earlier experience in soil sampling and lab work is not absolutely required, but would be a plus. Preferably, the candidate has a strong interest in treeline research. Experience of fieldwork in high mountain regions is desired. The willingness to cooperate with colleagues from other disciplines and institutes is a prerequisite. The candidate must have either profound knowledge in English or in German with good knowledge in English. We are looking for motivated PhD students with MSc degree or equivalent.

The PhD position is remunerated at the salary level TV-L 13 and calls for 65 % of standard work hours per week (Full-time positions currently comprise 39 hours per week). The fixed-term nature of this contract is based upon Section 2 of the academic fixed-term labor contract act (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG). The term is fixed for a period of 3 years.

The University of Tübingen aims to increase the share of women in research and encourage female scientists to apply. Severely disabled applicants will receive preference over equally qualified non-disabled applicants. We offer an excellent, interdisciplinary and dynamic research environment in an international team (https://www.uni-tuebingen.de/soilscience) and a vibrant city (https://www.tuebingen.de/en/). For more information contact Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten (thomas.scholtenspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de). Please send your application (one single pdf-formatted ocument) with detailed curriculum vitae, and statement of research interests, certificates/transcripts before 12 February 2023 to Margaretha Baur (margaretha.baur@uni-tuebingen.de).

The comic is readable in German, English and Arabic and will be printed for a travelling exhibition.

 https://www.archaeoman.de/en/the-joint-research-project-umweltwandel/kids/comic/ ​​​​​​​

Folge 3 von AGRIman Adventures kann als PDF heruntergeladen werden. 

Mehr Details dazu und wie diese Erfahrung war, hat Kerstin im folgendem Interview erzählt:
https://ki.imascientist.de/2022/12/01/themenrunde-ki-gewinnerin-kerstin-rau-im-interview/

Sämtliche Sprachversionen sind derzeit auf www.fao.org zu finden.

The call for papers is opened until 15th of january. 

The information collected will be a first step in drawing the soil map of the region and help to explain the distribution of the archaeological settlement through space and time.

Link to the SFB1070 B07 project

Our soil science and geomorphology group at the University of Tübingen participated in both 3-year phases of Earthshape: phase I Project 13: Microbiological stabilization of the Earth's surface across a climate gradient starting January 2016 and phase II Project 3: Microorganisms and soil structure start January 1, 2019, with the collaboration of the GFZ Potsdam, Technical University of Munich, University of Chile, University of Atacama and University of Copenhagen.

In the six years of EarthShape's activity, more than 80 scientific articles were published, outreach activities were carried out in Chile and Germany, about 20 PhDs and postdocs researched in different fields of geosciences and ecology, and strong collaborative links were established between Chilean and German scientists.

Read the blog here and meet them all:

https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/bg/2022/09/21/meet-your-bg-team-2022-23/

In the HET profile two interglacial soils are developed, in the BAN profile three interglacial palaeosols, the lowest of which in each case intervenes in the terrace gravels. Noteworthy in each case is a layer directly above the interglacial soil, which consisted mainly of charcoal-cored concretions and can be regarded as a stratigraphic marker layer.

Luminescence dating provided consistent ages up to the third last glacial. We would especially like to thank Mr. Müller (Baustoffrecycling Lehnen) for the extraordinary help in the field and the easy access to the outcrop. Photographs by Dr. Vincent Felde (Hannover).

Dr. Tara Beuzen-Waller will attend the event as a representative of Tübingen's Chair of Soil Science an Geomorphology.

• Appeal to a non-science audience by offering an exciting event
• Reach a broad audience that interacts with researchers
• Share “science in the making”: what are the questions, the procedures, the alliances, the successes and the difficulties?
• Involve members of the public and awaken the desire to develop and maintain a connection with research before and after the event

Dr. Tara Beuzen-Waller will attend the event at the Speed Searching 2.0 as a representative of Tübingen's Chair of Soil Science an Geomorphology.

In this book chapter the general factors affecting the equilibrium and stability of arid regions are discussed, with particular focus given to rainfall, the primary factor influencing the continuity and development of these environments. Unfortunately, the scarcity or complete lack of rain gauges in such areas complicates the collection of sufficient rainfall data. Consequently, systematic steps are proposed toward the development of alternative analyses of the spatiotemporal distribution of rainfall in arid regions. The foremost approach is the incorporation of remote sensing data, along with the appropriate classifiers, into the indirect evaluation of rainfall. For the purpose of assessing the suitability of the proposed methods, a detailed study on rainfall in the eastern side of the Gulf of Suez in Egypt is presented.

Link Projekthomepage

Link Projektdatenband

Link Waldklimafonds

Digital soil mapping (DSM) can be used to predict soils at unvisited sites, but problems arise when predictions are needed in areas without any soil observations. In such situations, DSM can still extend the results from reference areas with soil data to target areas that are alike in terms of soil-forming factors and obey the same rules. Such DSM methods have low accuracy due to the complexity of spatial variation in soil, and the difficulty of matching soil-forming factors exactly between reference and target areas. A new approach for extrapolating soil information from reference to target areas is proposed in the current research. We evaluated the ability of a semi-supervised learning (SSLR→T) approach compared to a supervised learning (SLR→T) approach for extrapolating soil classes in two areas (reference and target areas) in central Iran. The SSLR→T used soil observations from the reference area and covariates from both areas. Then, the learned knowledge produced by SSLR→T was transferred to the target area to estimate soil classes. The findings revealed that SSLR→T resulted in higher overall accuracy (0.65) and kappa index (0.44) in the target area compared to the SLR→T (overall accuracy = 0.40 and kappa index = 0.18). Furthermore, the SSLR→T produced the lower values of the confusion index (mean = 0.66) compared to the SLR→T (mean = 0.80). This indicated that the SSLR→T could not only increase the accuracy but also decrease the uncertainty of the soil class predictions, compared to the spatial extrapolation predictions derived from the SLR→T. Generally, these findings indicated that leveraging covariate information from the target area during the training of DSM models in the reference area could successfully improve the generalization power of the models, indicating the effectiveness of SSLR→T for spatial extrapolation.

This year's motto 'Crossing Boundaries, Changing Society' focuses on the link between soil and society, with sessions covering soil systems, soil processes, soil management and how we interact with and use soils around the world.

The chair of Soil Science and Geomorphology will attend the conference. Here is a preview of the contributions from our team.

Waiting EGU 2023 let’s meet us at the World Soils Sciences Congress in Glasgow this summer!

Die Kinder erschließen sich dabei gemeinsam mit Wissenschaftler*innen der AG Bodenkunde und Geomorphologie das Thema Boden und reflektieren die angewandten Arbeitsschritte im Rahmen eines Citizen-Science-Projektes. Dies bietet ihnen die besondere Gelegenheit, selbst zu echter Forschung beizutragen und das Gelernte direkt anzuwenden. Zugleich wird das forschende Interesse der Kinder gestärkt.

In unserem Projekt wird der sogenannte Tea-Bag-Index erhoben. Dabei handelt es sich um eine einfache und wissenschaftlich anerkannte Methode zur Bestimmung der Abbaurate von organischem Material (in diesem Fall von Tee) im Boden. Der Tea-Bag-Index dient Wissenschaftler*innen dazu, den Einfluss des Klimawandels auf den Boden besser zu verstehen.

Josh erklärt uns in seinem Video, was die Kinder während der Studie alles zum Tea-Bag-Index beitragen und wie viel Arbeit in dieser Forschung steckt:

Geoarchäologische Fragestellungen zählen zu den populärsten Themen innerhalb der beteiligten Fächer. Durch die Entschlüsselung von Geoarchiven mithilfe moderner Datierungs- und Analysemethoden und interdisziplinären Ansätzen gelingt es, frühere Kulturen innerhalb ihrer Umwelt zu verorten und vergangene Landschaften zu rekonstruieren. Gerade im Zeitalter des globalen Wandels erscheint es umso wichtiger, Zustände, Prozesse und Dynamiken der Vergangenheit zu verstehen, nicht zuletzt um daraus gewonnene Erkenntnisse auf zukünftige Entwicklungen anwenden zu können.

Das Buch wurde von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern von über 30 verschiedenen Universitätsinstituten, Behörden und Forschungseinrichtungen erarbeitet. Die Herausgeber sind Sprecher des 2004 gegründeten Arbeitskreises Geoarchäologie. Ihre über 70 Mitautorinnen und Mitautoren gehören zu den kundigsten Fachleuten ihrer Themen im deutschsprachigen Raum und darüber hinaus.

Link zum Beitrag

Link zum Gesamtwerk

• To share stakeholders’ connections and expectations with the research community to define common soil goals
• To coordinate the establishment of common roadmaps to protect soil along the food value chain
• To acquire common knowledge by rethinking ways of doing research
• To foster common soil education and awareness

The corresponding key questions were addressed by scientists and stakeholders during the conference, under different formats (classical sessions, workshops, webinars etc.). A wrap-up session organized by the working groups took place on the last day of the conference.

The purpose of this Frontiers Topic is to gather and develop the main contributions and debates related to the 4 priority areas addressed by Connecting People and Soil. The main contributors are therefore solicited to either synthesize the elements brought during the conference or to develop additional contributions.

For more information please visit Frontier's website.

Die elektronische Ausgabe der Zeitschrift ist für Mitglieder online zugänglich:  https://www.dbges.de/de/publikationen/journal-jpnss

EFTAS kontrolliert seit über 25 Jahren im Auftrag verschiedener Bundesländer die Flächen und Beihilfeanträge mehrerer Tausend landwirtschaftlicher Betriebe auf deren Richtigkeit und die Einhaltung diverser Kriterien anhand aktueller Luftbilder und Satellitenaufnahmen. Für die diesjährigen Kontrollen von landwirtschaftlichen Flächen und Anträgen im Rahmen des Projekts InVeKoS werden qualifizierte und motivierte Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter gesucht.

Gesucht werden Bewerberinnen und Bewerber mit GIS-Kenntnissen (möglichst in QGIS oder der ESRI-Software ArcGIS) und Erfahrungen mit der Auswertung und Interpretation von Luftbildern. Es werden 20 Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter mit demselben Profil gesucht.

Mit den angebotenen Stellen bietet die EFTAS eine Aufgabe und Tätigkeit an, die sowohl einen idealen Einstieg ins Berufsleben darstellt, als auch die ideale Möglichkeit bietet, wichtige Praxiserfahrung in diesem Bereich zu sammeln.

Die EFTAS Fernerkundung Technologietransfer GmbH mit Sitz in Münster ist in Deutschland einer der führenden Dienstleister für:

• Luftbildinterpretation
• Satellitenbildauswertung
• Digitale Photogrammetrie
• Geo-Informationssysteme
• Schulung/Consulting

Zu den Kunden der EFTAS zählen kommunale, nationale wie internationale Behörden ebenso wie Auftraggeber aus der Privatwirtschaft. Von der kleinen Gemeinde bis hin zu europäischen Institutionen erarbeitet sie für ihre Auftraggeber kundenspezifische Lösungen durch Fernerkundung und GIS. EFTAS ist seit 1999 nach ISO 9001 zertifiziert.

About this Research Topic

Organic carbon (SOC) and inorganic carbon (SIC) are the two components of the soil carbon pool. SOC includes organic compounds in various decomposition stages such as fine litter and roots, fauna, carbon (C) in microbial biomass, as well as simple sugars and polysaccharides, while SIC comprises carbonate-containing minerals and the dissolved H₂CO₃ species in soil solution. C stored in soils is the greatest C reservoir in most terrestrial ecosystems (~ 1500 Pg C in the top meter). The C level is a crucial component of soil health as it affects all physicochemical and biological properties and defines soil functioning in ecosystem services. Anthropogenic activities i.e., land management, usually lead to C loss but also recovery. Thus, monitoring changes in content, understanding the governing processes, and modeling future states of soil C depending on land management and climatic conditions are important for sustainable use of land resources, soil conservation, and mitigation strategies.

This Special Issue welcomes papers presenting innovative research or case studies dealing with Organic and Inorganic Carbon Pools in Soils. We invite researchers to contribute original articles presenting the most advanced progressions and interesting case studies regarding the following topics and beyond:

• Soil Carbon
• Soil health
• Soil Quality
• Digital Soil Mapping
• Remote and Proximal Sensing
• Modeling, mapping, and monitoring

Keywords: Soil Carbon Soil health Soil Quality Digital Soil Mapping Remote and Proximal Sensing Modeling, mapping, and monitoring

Weitere Infos: baden-wuerttemberg.de

The biocrust research in the Schönbuch Nature Park conducted by our group was recently featured in Attempto:
Erosion causes significant land damage around the world. Soil experts at the University of Tübingen are investigating whether mosses could be used as a natural method of protecting soil. Like a protective blanket, moss retains moisture and promotes regeneration.

https://uni-tuebingen.de/universitaet/aktuelles-und-publikationen/veroeffentlichungen/attempto/
 

Your responsibilities are: 

• Research on the application of machine learning for soil function and soil property mapping 
• Develop novel machine learning methods to extrapolate soil information 
• Documentation and publication of results in international peer reviewed journals 
• Presentation of results at national and international scientific meetings 
• Contribution to the teaching activities of the group to a limited extent 

We expect:  

• Completed PhD in Soil Science, Geoinformatics, Remote Sensing, Agriculture, Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, or other closely related disciplines 
• A research interest in the application of machine learning in soil science 
• Expertise in spatial statistical analysis and big data modeling 
• Experience in remote sensing of soil property 
• Experience in programming (R and/or Python) and GIS software (QGIS) 
• Very good communication skills (oral and written) in English 

We offer: 

• An excellent, interdisciplinary and dynamic research environment in an international team (http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/soilscience) and a vibrant city (https://www.tuebingen.de/en/) 
• Close collaboration with the Tübingen cluster of excellence ‘Machine Learning for Science’ (http://www.machinelearningforscience.de) and the Collaborative Research Center ‘ResouceCultures’ (SFB1070) including interesting career opportunities and an extensive range of training and further education courses 

The appointment will be limited to December 2024 (36 month). Work place is Tübingen. Salary will be according to the German public service (TVL E13, 100 %). In case of equal qualification and experience physically challenged applicants are given preference. The University of Tübingen aims to increase the share of women in research and encourage female scientists to apply. For more information contact Dr. Ruhollah Taghizadeh (ruhollah.taghizadeh-mehrjardi@mnf.uni-tuebingen.de). Please send your application (one pdf-formatted document) with detailed curriculum vitae, and statement of research interests, certificates/transcripts before 22 November 2021 to Margaretha Baur (margaretha.baur@uni-tuebingen.de). 

Multi-task convolutional neural networks outperformed random forest for mapping soil particle size fractions in central Iran

The full post on the Pedometrics' homepage can be found here.

Impact Festival 2021 | Main Stage - Agriculture Technology, Expert Panel: Soil Regeneration

More information on the festival can be found here: https://impact-festival.earth/

The paper can be found in the special issue on “Biocrust Hydrology” of the Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics (JHH) [direct link].

Die Exkursion wurde von Seiten der BLAM für Nachwuchs-WissenschaftlerInnen zu 70 % gefördert, wofür wir uns an dieser Stelle herzlich bedanken möchten.

Mehr zum Projekt: MesiCrust: Mechanisms of Soil Erosion under Forest – The Role of Biological Soil Crusts

https://nuitdeschercheurs-france.eu/?WelCome

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abg6995

The blog has three categories, each designed for a special purpose and with a specific target group in mind.

1. The category Latest Research is where the Cluster groups present their papers to the wider scientific public. The authors explain why they started working on a particular topic, highlight their most important findings and make clear why their work is relevant in the context of machine learning in science.
2. The Debate texts are opinion pieces by individual authors or groups of authors. The idea is to discuss aspects of machine learning that have an impact on society and science.
3. The Science Stories are for the general, interested public. Here, scientists from the Cluster are introduced that give insights into their motivation and work.

 https://www.machinelearningforscience.de/

Manuscripts can be submissed until 15 April 2022.

More information.

Conventional methods for mapping and monitoring soil properties involve regular field visits to collect soil samples followed by laboratory analyses and are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive. In recent decades, soil mapping and monitoring practices have largely transitioned toward the use of digital soil mapping approaches as a means to reduce the cost and time required to develop soil maps and leverage advances in modern technologies related to computing, remote sensing, UAVs, geostatistics, machine learning, and geographical information systems.

Novel methods, new applications, comparative analyses of models, case studies, and state-of-the-art review papers on topics pertaining to advances in soil monitoring and mapping in agriculture systems of agronomy are particularly welcomed.

Please check:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/special_issues/SoilMonitoring_Mapping

Im SFB1070 RessourcenKulturen der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen ist im Rahmen des Teilprojektes B07 Eine Jagd nach Rohstoffen? – Raummodelle in den RessourcenKulturen der nördlichen Peripherie Mesopotamiens zum 01. August 2021 befristet bis zum 30. Juni 2025 folgende Stelle zu besetzen:

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin / Wissenschaftliche

– Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L, 65% –

Das Projekt B07 untersucht die Ressourcen Böden, Siedlungen, Wasser und Wege in der nördlichen Rand- bzw. Nachbarregionen Mesopotamiens im nördlichen Irak im Rahmen einer interdisziplinären Kooperation von Bodenwissenschaften und Archäologie. Aus der ersten Förderphase des SFB1070 liegen umfangreiche Untersuchungen von Böden und Siedlungen vor, wobei eine überraschend hohe Anzahl von 529 alten Siedlungen bzw. archäologischen Fundstellen in dem 4400 km² großen Gebiet erstmals erfasst und intensiv betrachtet wurden. Erste Analysen deuten auf die herausragende Rolle der genannten vier Ressourcen und deren Zusammenwirken zu übergreifenden RessourcenKomplexen in der Region hin. Dies äußert sich im Befund des archäologischen Surveys der Untersuchungsregion in auffälliger Weise durch strukturell über die Epochengrenzen hinweg gleichbleibende Siedlungssysteme. Diese geht offenbar einher mit der besseren Qualität der Böden, deren Rolle für die strukturelle Kontinuität der Siedlungssysteme über Epochengrenzen hinweg bislang unklar ist. Um diese Zusammenhänge zu entschlüsseln, sollen die räumlichen Relationen zwischen den genannten Ressourcen analysiert und modelliert werden, wobei modernste Verfahren der Bodenanalytik für große Probenanzahlen (u.a. FTIR-Spektroskopie) und innovative Methoden des Maschinellen Lernens (ML, u.a. Deep Learning) für die Raummodellierung eingesetzt werden. Auf diese Weise sollen die charakteristischen Ressourcen-Konstellationen und deren Kontinuitäten und Diskontinuitäten ablesbar werden. Das Projekt möchte auf diese Weise zur Synthese des Gesamtkonzepts im SFB1070 beitragen und eine long durée-Perspektive in die Betrachtung von RessourcenKulturen einbringen.

Ihre Aufgabe ist äußerst spannend, vielseitig und anspruchsvoll, wobei Sie in allen Bereichen umfangreich durch den SFB1070 und die Arbeitsgruppen Bodenkunde und Geomorphologie sowie das Institut für die Kulturen des Alten Orients unterstützt werden. Die Arbeiten umfassen Geländeaufenthalte im nördlichen Irak mit anschließender Laborarbeitsphase zur Analyse der Bodenproben. Ein zweiter Aufgabenblock widmet sich der Erstellung von Raummodellen, wobei ML-Verfahren und GIS-Techniken angewendet werden. Die Laboranalysen werden durch studentische Hilfskräfte und Laborpersonal unterstützt. Die Modellierungsarbeiten werden von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern aus dem Exzellenzcluster „Maschinelles Lernen für die Wissenschaft“ an der Universität Tübingen begleitet.

Sie bringen ein wissenschaftliches Hochschulstudium in Bodenkunde, Geoökologie, Geographie, Archäologie, Informatik, Geowissenschaften oder einem verwandten Fach mit überdurchschnittlichem Ergebnis mit und streben eine Promotion an. Sie haben Interesse an der Arbeit mit anderen Kulturen und verfügen über Erfahrung in mindestens einem der genannten Forschungsbereiche. Sie wollen dieses Wissen vertiefen und erweitern und haben Interesse an einer Zusammenarbeit mit der Archäologie.

Informationen zum SFB 1070 RessourcenKulturen finden Sie unter http://www.unituebingen.de/forschung/forschungsschwerpunkte/sonderforschungsbereiche/sfb-1070.html. Schwerbehinderte werden bei gleicher Eignung bevorzugt berücksichtigt. Die Universität Tübingen strebt eine Erhöhung des Anteils von Frauen in Forschung und Lehre an und bittet deshalb entsprechend qualifizierte Wissenschaftlerinnen um ihre Bewerbung. Für weitere Informationen wenden Sie sich bitte an Prof. Thomas Scholten (thomas.scholtenspam prevention@unituebingen.de). Ihre Bewerbung mit den üblichen Unterlagen (Anschreiben, Lebenslauf, Zeugnisse) richten Sie bitte in Form eines einzigen pdf-Dokuments per E-Mail bis zum 15.07.2021 an Margaretha Baur (margaretha.baurspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de). Die Einstellung erfolgt durch die Zentrale Verwaltung.

PDF Download (de)

PDF Download (en)

Agriculture plays an important role in sustaining all human activities. The rapid increase in the world's population will further exacerbate food, water, and energy challenges. Digital agriculture—with precision farming, data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence—has the potential to address the challenges of sustainable agricultural use. Machine learning—the scientific field that gives machines the ability to learn without being strictly programmed—has the potential to make agriculture more efficient and effective. The increasing amount of sophisticated data (e.g., remote sensing and proximal sensing) makes it possible to bridge the gap between data and decisions within agricultural planning. On-demand representative sampling and modeling of useful soil information in an unprecedented resolution leads to an improvement in the decision-making processes of, for example, liming, irrigation, fertilization, higher productivity, reduced waste in food, and biofuel production. Additionally, sustainable land management practices are only as good as the data they are made of, and they help to minimize negative consequences such as soil erosion, soil compaction, and organic carbon and biodiversity loss. In the last few years, different machine learning techniques, different geophysical sensor platforms, as well as newly available satellite data have been tested and applied in precision agriculture. This Issue on Machine Learning in Digital Agriculture provides international coverage of advances in the development and application of machine learning for solving problems in agricultural disciplines such as soil and water management. Novel methods, new applications, comparative analyses of models, case studies, and state-of-the-art review papers on topics pertaining to advances in the use of machine learning in agriculture are particularly welcomed. For further reading, please follow the link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/special_issues/Machine-Digital

This year, the committee has made the 2021 Margaret Oliver Award to Dr. Alexandre Wadoux. Alexandre graduated in Environmental Geography from the University of Angers, France, in 2012. He obtained Master's degrees in soil science at the University of Tübingen, and philosophy of science (Nantes, France) before graduating from Wageningen in 2019 with a PhD thesis entitled Sampling design optimization for geostatistical modelling and prediction under the supervision of Gerard Heuvelink and Dick Brus. These studies were undertaken within a highly competitive Marie Curie Initial Training Network (EU) programme, under which he gained experience as a visiting researcher at Sydney, the British Geological Survey, Delft University of Technology and Bristol University. Since the end of his PhD studies Alexandre has been employed as a Research Associate at the Sydney Institute of Agriculture & School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Australia. 

Read the full article written by Murray Lark and published by Nicolas Saby at pedometrics.org.

Newly funded Innovation Fund projects In the third round of calls for proposals within the framework of our intramural Innovation Fund, so-called "Mini Graduate Schools" are being funded for the first time - five of them were successful, as well as one individual project: 

https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/research/core-research/cluster-of-excellence-machine-learning/news/news/news/newsfullview-news/article/neue-mini-graduiertenschulen-im-innovation-fund-programm-des-clusters/

https://www.swr.de/~embed/swr2/wissen/wie-biokrusten-dem-wald-helfen-koennen-100.html

“Middle Bronze Age land use practices in the north-western Alpine foreland ‐ A multi-proxy study of colluvial deposits, archaeological features and peat bogs” is available online at https://soil.copernicus.org/preprints/soil-2020-84/

“What’s in a colluvial deposit? Perspectives from archaeopedology” is available online at doi: 10.1016/j.catena.2020.105040

In this study, we demonstrate that biochar amendments immediately reduce soil degradation by water erosion without long-term incorporation of particles into the soil.

https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/4/4/60

Our Advent wreath was made this year by PhD students Sonja Thielen and Corinna Gall from mosses they collected themselves in the Schönbuch forest.
Thanks a lot for this beautiful present.

Am ersten Exkursionstag lernten wir bei einer durch Herrn Martin Nebel geführten Tour viele verschiedene alpine Moosarten in Saas-Almagell kennen. Sehr erfreulich war auch ein kleiner Einblick in die heimische Fauna: Wir konnten ein paar Murmeltiere beim Entspannen beobachten. Der zweite Tag war stärker geomorphologisch geprägt. Wir machten uns in Eigenregie auf den Weg zum Schwarzberggletscher und untersuchten auf dem Rückweg die Biologischen Bodenkrusten auf der Lateralmoräne des Gletschers. Am dritten Tag wanderten wir unter Leitung von Martin Nebel und Michael Sauer von Saas-Almagell nach Saas-Fee und fuhren von dort aus mit der Seilbahn auf das 2989 Meter hohe Felskinn.

Die Exkursion wurde von Seiten der BLAM für die JungwissenschaftlerInnen mit 200 € gefördert, wofür wir uns an dieser Stelle herzlich bedanken möchten.

We, the PhD students Sonja Thielen (working group of Invertebrate Paleontology and Paleoclimatology) and Corinna Gall (working group of Soil Science and Geomorphology), try to answer these questions with a new experiment. During the irrigation process we measure moisture in the moss cover, soil surface and in 3 cm depth of the soil with a biocrust wetness probe (BWP). First, we observe the hydration process by adding six liters of water to each sample, and then we monitor the desiccation process over 72 hours. Afterwards we detach the mosses from the soil substrate and test the maximum water absorption of the different moss species. Furthermore, we took a soil sample with a core cutter and also test the maximum water absorption of the different soil substrates. In total we compare three soil substrates and four moss species.

Senn, J. A., Fassnacht, F. E., Eichel, J., Seitz, S., Schmidtlein, S. (2020): A new concept for estimating the influence of vegetation on throughfall kinetic energy using aerial laser scanning. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 45(7): 1487-1498. 

Link: doi: 10.1002/esp.4820

Please watch our video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD8icgZZL0Y

The Soil Science and Geomorphology Group is active with many contributions and also available for questions and answers in the online discussions. Have a look at our contributions here:

Carina Becker et al.: Using multi-temporal Sentinel-2 data to predict chemical properties of the organic surface layer of forest soil

Laura Bindereif et al.: Synthetic sampling for spatio-temporal land cover mapping with machine learning and the Google Earth Engine in Andalusia, Spain

Zuonan Cao et al.: Soil and vegetation feedbacks on climate change in high mountain ranges of the Tibetan Plateau using near and mid-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NMIRS) in soil properties, phosphorus (P) as example

Corinna Gall et al.: Soil Erosion in Mesic Forests: How do Biological Soil Crusts affect sediment transport and surface runoff?

Philipp Gries et al.: Soil formation and biological soil crust development in glacier forelands of Svalbard (High Arctic)

Tobias Rentschler et al.: Volumetric soil quality modelling with machine learning in a diverse agricultural landscape in Andalusia, Spain

Nicolas Riveras Munoz et al.: Soil erosion controlled by biota along a climate gradient in Chile

Steffen Seitz et al.: Soil erosion monitoring at small scales: Using close range photogrammetry and laser scanning to evaluate initial sediment delivery

Ruhollah Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi et al.: Predicting and mapping of soil salinity using machine learning algorithms in central arid regions of Iran

A session on “Interactions between Geology, Biology and Climate at the Earth’s surface “ (SSS8.10) is organized by Steffen Seitz and Laurent Husson et al. on Friday, 8 May 08:30 – 10:15
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2020/session/35086

Machine learning—the scientific field that gives machines the ability to learn without being strictly programmed—can make agriculture more efficient and effective. An increasing amount of sophisticated data, from remote sensing and especially from proximal sensing, make it possible to bridge the gap between data and decisions within agricultural planning. On-demand representative sampling and modeling of useful soil information in an unprecedented resolution leads to an improvement in the decision-making processes of, for example, liming, irrigation, fertilization, higher productivity, reduced waste in food, and biofuel production. Additionally, sustainable land management practices are only as good as the data they are made of, and help to minimize negative consequences like soil erosion, soil compaction, and organic carbon and biodiversity loss. In the last few years, different machine learning techniques (e.g., artificial neural networks, decision tree, support vector machine, ensemble models, deep learning), different geophysical sensor platforms, as well as newly available satellite data have been tested and applied in precision agriculture. This Special Issue on Machine Learning Applications in Digital Agriculture provides international coverage of advances in the development and application of machine learning for solving problems in agriculture disciplines like soil and water management. Novel methods, new applications, comparative analyses of models, case studies, and state-of-the-art review papers on topics pertaining to  advances in the use of machine learning in agriculture are  particularly welcomed. For further reading, please follow the link to the Special Issue Website at:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/special_issues/Machine-Agriculture

World Soil Day, December 5th 2019

Klick here to see the movie.